Not so ‘Free Republic’: The Shot Heard Around the Net

The Conservative Voice ^ | Feb 11, 2005 | by William Gheen, President, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC

[Jim Robinson]

The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the President’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.

The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The management’s answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.

Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.

Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bush’s immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the President’s Oath of Office.

[Petronski]

Precisely.

[processing please hold]

Well said and on the mark.

[Spiff]

People who post racist comments are not necessarily racists. Most on FR who repeat racist statements simply don't appreciate that what they are saying is racist. It has been repeated so many times that Hispanic immigrants are...blah,blah,blah < SNIP >

You're always the first to throw out the freakin' race card and paint everyone with any concern about illegal immigration with the same "racist" and "xenophobe" brush. Can I point out to you for the umpteenth time that Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, or whatever is not a race! It is an ethnicity. You're playing the leftist game by claiming it is a race and by pointing and screaming that everyone is a racist. Even if some misguided soul hated Hispanics, it is no different than hating the French or the Irish or whatever. Some people have a problem with Mexicans - now, that's not a race or an ethnicity but, instead, it is a nationality. Just like I hate the French and the Germans for all the anti-American crap they've been throwing at us in recent years, I hate Mexico too - the Mexican government. I don't go so far as to hating all Mexicans, just those who have been breaking and entering our borders. But even then, it would not be "racist" as I hate law breakers of every color, creed, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc. So, why don't you take all your "you're a racist xenophobe bigot" and cram it!

[My2Cents]

To be honest, I'm only aware of the flood of naysayers onto FR during the run-up of the 2004 campaign, not what recently has been going on. I'm on FR every day, so if there's been any purge in recent days, it's been pretty narrow and selective, but probably deserved.

[secret garden]

Someone needs to get through to that 48%.

[Annie03]

ping

[delacoert]

It's not just you. I think we are on troll threat level alpha lately.

ditto

[P_A_I]

ditto bump

[Natural Law]

Free Republic is not a debating forum or a place I go to to try to change the minds of others. It is a great place to get and share information, nothing more, nothing less.

[F16Fighter]

"I oppose the idea of using the armed forces to patrol the borders, I don't believe that borders can be 'sealed', and I don't think that they can be 'closed' either, and for that I am labeled a supporter of illegal immigration."

(stifling hysterical laughter)

[Howlin]

It really is a uniquely circular and closed little world you run here, Jim. Newbies who find your web site and want to participate are bound by a very specific (and unwritten) set of rules: “Don’t express your opinion on controversial topics or you’ll be banned”, “Don’t post on certain threads or you’ll be banned”, “Shut up and accept and loudly agree with anything you see posted by an old hand and/or Howlin or you’ll be banned”, “Do not presume to question an old hand and/or Howlin or you’ll be banned”, “Besides Jim Robinson, Howlin is your god and don’t you ever forget it or you’ll be banned”. I think you get the idea.

I missed this little ditty the first time I scanned your post.

I think you're one of those guys who has MAJOR issues with women, especially women who have the nerve to stand up to you.

And if I had the power you people say I do, you'd have been gone a long time ago.

[Spiff]

>I see open borders on hhe Canadian border and no uproar.

Gosh, I wonder why. (sarcastic smirk :o)

Well, Einstein, that would be because hardly any illegal aliens are flooding across the Canadian border. (smirk)

[bayourod]

"One regular supporter of the Bush immigration plan that posts under the name Bayourod, exclaimed “there aren't that many of you left, and the ones that are, are mostly lightweights who don't understand the issues. Watch for the ones who call other FReepers names. They are the immature ones who are (in) way over their heads.”"

I posted that before there were any "purgings" to my knowledge. I was referring to the number of FReepers who had simply stopped responding to the pings of the anti-immigrants. They still posted on other type threads but no longer came when pinged to illegals threads.

The anti-illegals movement was losing steam before anyone was banned.

[JesseJane]

Well, I see this thread has disintegrated into the same old same old. The flame wars have begun. Sheeeeeese.

[MeekOneGOP]

Well, well, well!

---

When you and your out-of-control moderators ban people then your indoctrinated flying monkeys such as MeekOneGOP, bmwcyle, Howlin, Grampa Dave, and Coop treat them rudely and offensively and post funny kitty pictures as sport, you should know by now that bad karma is its own punishment.

---

My status has been elevated from pinger of the Viking Kitties to Indoctrinated Flying monkey! hahaha!

By the Asgard Shill, of all folks.

[wardaddy]

BTTT

[humblegunner]

Whoa...

Howlin is your god and don’t you ever forget it or you’ll be banned

I had no idea! I'll remind myself not to get crossways with you! ;-)

[Rightly Biased]

Listen, do you smell something?

[ElkGroveDan]

I made my point Mr. Inquisitor. Go cross examine someone else.

[StrictTime]

pinging myself for later reading...